The Francis Marion University men's and women's tennis teams swing into action as they enter the 2026 season carrying preseason recognition from Conference Carolinas. FMU opens its campaign on Saturday (Feb. 7) at Newberry College at 1 p.m.

The Patriots were to have opened their seasons on Wednesday at Coker University, but those matches were postponed due to weather and will now be played on March 5.

The Patriot men were selected second in the 2026 Conference Carolinas Preseason Coaches Poll, receiving 123 votes, whereas the women were picked fifth, totaling 116 votes.

The Patriots' 19-match slate includes nine home matches, with postseason play at the 2026 Conference Carolinas Tennis Championships, April 22-25, at the Palmetto Tennis Center in Sumter, S.C.

The FMU women will host Augusta University on Feb. 11 at 1:30 p.m. for their home opener, while the men play their first home match against Augusta on Feb. 28 at 1 p.m.

Second-year head coach Laszlo Leiter welcomes back seven men from last year's 12-7 squad that tied for second in the regular season and advanced to the semifinals of the conference tournament. Sophomore Miguel Maia is the frontrunner for the returners after earning a 13-6 singles record and a 13-5 doubles mark in his collegiate debut. Fellow sophomore Diego Vega Espinosa also returns after going 12-4 in singles action, including a flawless 8-0 conference record.

Junior transfer Alexandre Frigout from Western New Mexico University and freshman Viktor Virághalmi from Szeged, Hungary, are among four new faces that add more depth to men's roster.

"We have a very deep team that gives me a lot of choices from quality players with different skillsets," states Leiter in regards to the men. "We're looking to cause some surprises. 'One team, one will' will be our chant to bring the [men and women] together as a unit. Nothing speaks louder than the wins we earn."                                                                               (OVER)

Leiter returns five players on the women's side from last season's squad that finished 8-9 overall and with a conference record of 6-4, tying for sixth in the league standings. A standout among the returners is sophomore Lara Lanno, who earned All-Conference Carolinas third-team honors last season with a 9-6 singles record (6-3 in conference play).

"We've got a lot of young women that have a lot to prove," the head coach proclaimed. "We are slightly underestimated, I think, which takes the pressure off. So I am somewhat comfortable with this expectation – by how much is the question – we try to cause even bigger upsets with the women. We will try to cause surprises the same way we'll do with the guys."

Four freshmen and a transfer help comprise the women's roster for 2026.